Murray Shows Federer the Exit

World No. 3 Andy Murray will face off against two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s Australian Open final after dismissing 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2 in exactly four hours.

It’s the first time the 25 year-old has tasted victory against Federer at a major, having finished runner-up to the Swiss player in three Grand Slam finals: the 2008 U.S. Open, 2010 Australian Open and 2012 Wimbledon.

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Murray ousted Federer for the chance to win a maiden Australian Open on Sunday

Murray’s previous best win over Federer came in the gold medal match of last year’s London Olympics, where he triumphed 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.

“I’ve been know for losing a lot of tough matches and big matches here, having never beaten Roger in a big match until the Olympics,” said Murray. “That doesn’t help that much when you’re trying to serve it out.”

The Briton served 21 aces to Federer’s five, his most in their 20 career encounters. He made 62 winners and kept his unforced errors at 47, 19 more and 13 less than his opponent, respectively.

Murray converted just one of seven break point chances in the first set but it was all he’d need to snag an early advantage against the 31 year-old, who before Friday, had never contested two back-to-back, five-set matches.

With fresh legs from having spent almost two hours less on court than Federer en route to the final, Murray served for a place in the final at 6-5, 30-all in the fourth set before the four-time Australian Open winner produced a stunning backhand winner that earned him a break point, which he seized to force a tiebreak.

“Slams [are] when he plays his best tennis,” said the reigning U.S. Open champion, well aware that when Federer is backed into a corner, he’s so often able to fight his way out.

Despite an underwhelming tiebreak performance, Murray broke early in the final set as Federer sprayed 13 of his 60 unforced errors and only made 54% of his first serves.

“He beat me fair and square tonight. No regrets from me,” admitted Federer. “Overall, he probably created more chances than I did. I had difficulties finding, you know, getting into his service games time and time again.”

The victory enabled the Scot, who is the only active player other than Rafael Nadal to hold a winning record against Federer, to extend his lead to 11-9. It also signaled Federer’s third straight semifinal exit in Melbourne; he hasn’t been in a final Down Under since he won the 2010 title.

Murray’s head-to-head record against Djokovic is a less successful 7-10, though he has the chance to improve it Sunday where both can make history.

He also has the chance to become the first maiden Grand Slam winner to claim the next possible major, while Djokovic can become the first man to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.

The third seed is prepared for an extremely physical final, describing the Serb as an “unbelievable mover.”

“I hope it’s a painful match, that means it’ll be a good one,” said the man who ended the U.K.’s 76-year Grand Slam drought in New York last September.

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